Identifying means for night-latch keys



J. E. PATTERSON. IDENTIFYING MEANS FOR NIGHT LATCH KEYS.

l'arvntwd Nov. 25, 1919.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I0, 1919.

AYE-AIL.

' lates more specifically I tions of the respective owners JOHN E.PATTERSON, 01E POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

IDENTIFYING MEANS FOR NIGHT-LATCH KEYS.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Poughkeepsie, in the countyof Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Identifying Means for Night-Latch Keys; and do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. 1

This invention relates to keys, and it reto an improved identifyingmeans for a night latch key or similar article.

One object of this invention is to provide a key with a plurality ofsuperposed cards or the like on which the names of successive owners orusers of the key may be written or otherwise aflixed to serve asidentificaor users. Another object is to provide a device of thischaracter embodying means of easy-access to a large portion of eachcard, so that a pointed instrument can be engaged with an obsolete cardso as to remove the latter and thereby expose a previously concealed oneof the cards and permit a name, number or other character or charactersto be affixed on the newly exposed card.

Another object is to provide each card with a border or frame to whichit is detachably connected by means of a series of fragile connectingelements so that it may be easily detached from its frame or border,leaving the latter in osition to aid in securing the other car 5 intheir respective places.

Other objects and advantages may become apparent to persons who read thefollowing details of description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a key partly in side elevation and partly insection disclosing the topmost one of the identification sheets.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View along the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view at right angles to Fig. 2, anddisclosing the device after several have been removed. a

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one of the identificationsheets or plates before it has been united with the body of the key.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

of the identification cards Referring to these drawings in detail, inwhich similar reference characters correspond with similar partsthroughout the several views, the key \blade 5 may be of any appropriateconstruction, according to the lock to be operated thereby, and the keyhandle 6 may also be ofany appropriate or preferred contour as regardsits relatively thin or convex sides. However, the major sides of the keyhandle are preferably plane with the exception of the central cavity 7and the flanges 8 and 9 which extend over the margin of the bottom 10.The bottom 10 1s preferably plane and surrounded by end and side walls11 and 12 from the tops of which the flanges 8 and 9 extend,respectively, other words, the flanges 8 and 9 are parallel with andspaced from the respective end and side margins of the bottom 10.

A plurality of the identification sheets 13, (one of which is shown inFig. 4), are

superposed within the cavity, as shown 1n 8. and 9, so that a name ornumber may be -written or otherwise aflixed upon the outer surface ofthe outermost card, the other cards being invisible and inaccessiblebecause they are completely inclosed within the cavity 7 Each sheet 13is provided with rows of perforations at the junction of the middleportion 15 and margin 14, and between these perforations are providedrows of fragile connecting elements 16 which are in registration withthe inner edges of the flanges 8 and 9. One of the flanges 8 and thecorresponding wall 11 is provided with a notch 17 which extends to thebottom of the cavity and provides means through which a sharppointedinstrument may be inserted under the topmost card or through one of theperforations thereof so as to remove the topmost card when it becomesobsolete, thereby exposing a previously concealed card in position toreceive a mark or character of identification.

The margin 14, however, is left within the cavity as shown in Fig. 3,and this margin coacts with the margins of the other sheets in holdingthe cards rigidly in place.

Patented'Nov. 25, 1919.

Application filed February 10, 1919. Serial No. 2"?6310.

over the margin of the bottom 10. In f In forming the blank, thefiangesfi and 9 are primarily formed in a position at right angles tothat illustrated in the drawings, so that the opening of the cavity issufficiently large to receive the sheets 13; and after the Sheets havebeen placed on the bottom 10, the flanges 8 and 9 are passed behardenedor stiffened by any appropriate means.

Although I have described this embodiment of my invention veryspecifically, it is not intended to limit this invention to theseexactdetails of construction and arrangement of parts, but I am entitled topmake changes within the scope of the inventive-idea disclosed in theforegoing description and following claims.

What Iclaim as my invention is: 1,. device of the character described,comprising a body portlon having a cavity formed therein with projectingflanges extending around the margin of the said cavity, and a pluralityof identification sheets superposed within said cavity and having theiredges clamped between said flanges and body portion, a portion of eachof said sheets being removable to expose and display a portion of thesubjacent one of said sheets. 1

2. A device of the character described, comprising a body portion havinga cavity formed therein with projectingflanges extending around themargin of said cavity and a plurality of identification sheetssuperposed within said cavity and having their edges clamped betweensaid body pow tion and flanges, each of said sheets consisting of anidentification card and a border around the card, said border beingunited with the card by rows of fragile connecting elementssubstantially in registration with the inner edges of the respectiveflanges, whereby apointed instrument may be engaged with said card andcoact with said flanges to separate the topmost card from its borderwhile the latter remains in its seat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' JOHN E. PATTERSON.

